Australia Dancing - Australian Theatre Ballet (1955

Australian Theatre Ballet (1955 - 1955)

Photographer unknown: Paula Hinton and Walter Gore in 'Tancredi and Chlorinda', 1950s

Scottish dancer and choreographer Walter Gore and his wife, Paula Hinton, arrived in Australia in late 1954 to found a new ballet company under the auspices of the Australian Ballet Society. The company was formed in Melbourne in January 1955 and named Australian Theatre Ballet. Auditions were held in January and rehearsals began in Melbourne on 22 January. The company consisted of 13 dancers, 5 male and 8 female, and was led by Gore and Hinton as principal dancers with Cecil Bates as ballet master and soloist.

The company opened in the Victorian regional town of Bendigo on 11 April 1955 and then toured regional centres in Victoria and South Australia. A season in Adelaide in the Studio Theatre followed in July before seasons in Melbourne later that month. The company disbanded on 8 August 1955.

Australian Theatre Ballet's repertoire consisted largely of works by Gore including two world premieres: Musical Chairs and Soft Sorrow. Other works by Gore danced by the company were Hoops, Boxing, Light Fantastic, Street Games, Peepshow, Pastorale, Conversazioni, Grand pas de trois classique and Tancredi and Chlorinda.

See also: Bates, Cecil ; Gore, Walter

Research Materials

Other resources

Find more about Australian Theatre Ballet in:

Internet - Google
Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
Pictures - Picture Australia